What do I do with paper and cardboard?
Paper and cardboard are the easiest recycling win in Missoula — Republic Services takes them curbside, and cardboard in particular has a robust market. The catch: contamination (food grease, plastic windows, tape) can kick a whole load to landfill, so it matters to prep right.
Step 1 — Best
Reduce
Don’t create the waste in the first place.
- •Unsubscribe from catalogs at CatalogChoice.org — cuts most junk mail in a single afternoon.
- •Opt out of pre-approved credit offers at OptOutPreScreen.com.
- •Default to digital receipts and bills.
Step 2 — Better
Reuse
Give it another life — donate, sell, or repurpose.
- •Books: Book Exchange (Brooks St) buys and trades; Goodwill, Secret Seconds, and Hope Thrift all take books.
- •Cardboard boxes (clean, flat): post on Buy Nothing — someone is always moving or shipping.
- •Newspaper: fire starter, pet bedding, seedling pots, window cleaner.
Step 3 — Good
Recycle
Proper drop-off keeps materials in the economy.
- •Curbside (Republic Services): cardboard, office paper, newspaper, magazines, junk mail — flatten cardboard, no food contamination.
- •Large cardboard volumes (moving, business): drop directly at Republic Services on Clay St.
- •Shredded paper: bag it separately; it can clog sorting equipment otherwise.
Last Resort
Heads up
Greasy pizza boxes, waxed paper, and paper towels are compost, not recycling — send them to Garden City Compost or backyard bin.
Where to take it in Missoula
Top spots from our verified local directory. Hours and details current as of April 2026.
Still overwhelmed?
paper & cardboard is just one pile. If the whole house feels like this, Chanel handles the sorting, hauling, and drop-offs — across every category in this guide.
Book a Free Call →or call (406) 285-1525
Disposal information on this page is synthesized from ZERO by FIFTY Missoula’s Paper & Cardboard guide, a City of Missoula initiative coordinated by Home ReSource.
Clutter Free Spaces adds local overlays: live hours, community verification, and a direct path to help if you need it.